Fence-wire clamp.



K. MADDOX FENCE WIRE CLAMK APPLICATION FlLDS EPT.26. 1911.

Patented Apr. 23,1918.

, rs aarnn'r min KENNETH mannox, or nan'rronn, KENTUCKY.

FENjCE-WIRE CLAMP.

, naeaaioe.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 23, rate.

Application filed September 26,1917. SeriaI No. 193,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENNETH MADDox, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residingat Hartford, in the county of Ohio and State ofKentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in FenCe'Wire.Clamps, of which the following is a specifivlcation. a a

' 1 The present invention has reference generallyto improvements inpushers and pullers and more particularly relates to. a fence wireclamp. v y 1 It is the primary aim and object ofthis invention toprovide a device of the above character designed to be clamped on oneend of a wire fence and used in conjunction with the wire stretcher toassure of the equal stretching of-the wire during the operation .of thestretcher. i.

As an equally important object the present invention embraces theprovision of a fence wire clamp of the character described wherein thebarsthereof are capable of being readily engaged on one end of a wirefence and subsequently clamped in such position so as to preventaccidental displacement of the bars when the device is in use.

More particularly this invention contemplates the provision of a fencewire clamp wherein cotiperative clamping means ofimproved constructionare mounted 011 the bars for removably holding the bars in substantiallyrigid relation with respect to each other subsequent to the placing ofthe end pose and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter set forth.

The invention accordinglyconsists in the features of constructiomthecombination of elements. and the arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

lheinvention isclearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front elevation of the inventlon; i Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the inter mediate clamp, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the end clamps.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of one of the links. a v

Similar characters of reference are employed in all the above describedviews to indicate corresponding parts. a i Referring now, moreparticularly, to th accompanying drawings there is provided a pair ofelongated bars 1 and 2 being relatively flat and formed desirably ofwood. Arcuate pairs of opposed links are employed for movablyandremovably connecting the bars to each other, the link 3 of each pairterminating at its inner end in a loop 4 one portion of which isrestricted as at 5 for removable engagement with a fastening device 6carried by the outerface of the bar 1 while the link? of each pair hasits inner looped end pivotally connected, through the instrumentality ofa suitable fastening-device 8 to the outer face of the other bar at apoint opposite the point of connection of the adjacent link 3. Both ofthe links terminate at their outer ends in eyes 9 and areremovablyconnected to each other through the instrumentality of loops 10while the loops 10 I are in turn connected to each other by a flexibleelement such as a chain 11 which is adapted to be'engaged by a wirestretcher, not shown, for a purpose thatwill presently appeani a Tofacilitate meshed wire between the inner faces of the bars a pluralityof pins 12 project at right angles from the inner surface of 'thebar 1.;

and are removably engaged in the opposed sockets 13 formed in the innerface of the bail as indicated in Fig. 3. Of course these pins areadapted to be arranged throughthe meshof .a piece of wire-adjacent oneend thereof whcnthe wire is arranged between the bars and serve toassure of the retention of the wire between the bars. i. r

A As intimated, improved cooperative clampmg means have beenPI'OVlClGClfOI' removthe engagement of apiece of 'permit of thedisengagement of the bars.

links is arranged on the bolt between the head and the washer 20 whichin turn is po sltioned ad acent the outer surface of the adjacent armwhile the other link is positioned between another washer 21 and a nut22 threaded on the projecting end of the bolt. In connecting the. linksto the bar 1 bolts 23 are employed and, are extended through the bar 1adjacent the respective ends thereof, and washers 24 are arranged aboutthe bolts 23 adjacent the opposite side edges of the bar 1 while thelinks on the end clamps 14 are also pivotally arranged about the bolts23 one of the links being positioned between the head of the bolt andthe adjacent washer while the other link is arranged between the otherwasher and a nut 25 removably threaded on the bolt. In this connectionit is to be. observed that the handles of the end clamps are positionedto extend toward each other while the links 19 connected thereto aredesigned so as to be swung at times over the ends of the bars to Thelinks 19 which are connected to the intermediate clamp 14 have notches26 formed .in the outer ends and when arranged about the opposite sidesof the bars are designed forengagement with the projecting ends of atransversely extending pintle 27 carried by the bar 1. The handle of theintermediate clamp 19 is designed to extend toward either one of the endclamps. Cooperating with the cross bars of the clamps are retainingelements 28 each of which in the present instance is formed from arelatively flat piece of metal one end of which is bent upwardly to-forma hook 29 while the body 30 of each element is provided with an openingto permit of the engagement of the element about one of the bolts 31mounted in the bar 2.

subsequent to'the arranging of the bodies 80 of each of the bolts andserves to clamp the adjacent element 28 to the outer face of the bar 2.At this point it will be observed that the hooks 29 on the end retainingelements are positioned in proximity to the ends of the bars. Invaddition it will also be observed that the hooks are positioned in aplane inspaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent bolts28 and the pintle 27 so that when the end clamps are swung over the barssubsequent to arranging a piece ofmeshed fabric t-herehetween the crossbars 17 formed between the outer ends of the curved arms of the fork 16are arranged behind the adjacent hook 29 while the ends of the arms arerounded and in effect serve as cams and upon continued movement of thehandle the bolts 18 owing to the connection of the links 19 therewithare swung to a position off-center while the handles engage the adjacentface of the bar 2 and are maintained in such position. owing to therelation of the parts. This arrangement of course serves to clamp thebars so as to prevent accidental displacement of the same from position.Subsequent to the arranging of -the end clamps the notches which ineffect provide lugs are engaged about the projecting ends of the pintle27 while the clamp is mounted in a manner similar to the clamps so as tocooperate therewith in holding the bars in position. Subsequent to theclamping of the bars, of course, a wire stretcher of any conventionaltype is adapted to be connected to the chain 11 and operated while thewire fence clamp serves to equalize the strain on the wire. Of coursethe clamps may be readily disengaged by swinging the handles in reverseddirection and moving the links of the end clamps so as to position thelatter beyond the ends of the bars while of course the intermediateclamp may be disengaged owing to the notches in the ends of the adjacentlinks.

It is believed that in view of the foregoing description a furtherdetailed description of the operation of the invention is entirelyunnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of theinvention will be readily apparent.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense. It isalso to be understood that the language used in the following claims isintended to cover all the generic and specific features of the inventionherein described and all statements of the scope of the invention whichas a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is l. A wire fence clampconsisting of a pair of elongated bars, cooperative means on the innerfaces of the bars in engagement with a piece of wire placed between thebars, a plurality of clamps each embodying a handle, a fork formed onone end thereof the arms of which are curved, a cross bar connecting theouter ends of the fork, opposed pairs of links pivotally connected tothe outer sides of one of the bars and also pivotally connected to thecurved arms of the fork of the adjacent clamp, and retaining memberscarried by the front face of the other bar and arranged in a plane inspaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the pivot on the opposedlinks of the other bar and engageable by the cross bars of the adjacentclamps subsequent to the swinging of the links and designed to assure ofthe clamping of the bars together subsequent to the swinging of thehandle. 7

2. A fence wire clamp including a pair of bars, cooperative means on theinner surface of the bars for engagement with a piece of wire fabricarranged therebetween, a plurality of clamps each including a handle, a

are curved, and a cross bar connecting the ends of the arms of eachfork,a plurality of opposed pairs of links, bolt and nut arrangementsfor pivotally connecting a the inner ends of the links to the arms ofthe forks of each clamp, bolts for pivotally connecting the links of theend clamps to points adjacent the ends of one of the bars, the outerends of the links of the intermediate clamp being formed with notches, apintle carried by one of the bars having its respective ends proj ectingbeyond the side of the bar so as to be removably engaged by the notchedlinks, and a plurality of retaining elements carried by the outer faceof the other bar and terminating in hooks which are engaged by the crossbars preparatory to swinging the handles so as to clamp the barstogether.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

KENNETH MADDOX.

homes or tlhtle patent-may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Gommlseiouer of Pateate,

' Waebiumtbm, n. W I

fork formed on one end the arms of which

